Feedback From My Inbox

Accepted.com sends all clients Requests for Feedback. The feedback we receive back from our clients frequently makes its way to our client feedback pages (when the client gives permission) and also provides us with invaluable suggestions for improving our service. I would like to share with you feedback from a non-traditional medical school applicant writing about the service she received from Accepted.com editor Cydney Foote, who is also the author of Write Your Way to a Residency Match .

1) On a macro (content) level, how would you rate your editor’s input?

Absolutely amazing. I was having a hard time figuring out what experiences would sell me best. Plus, they all sounded good as separate anecdotes, but I had no idea how to weave all of them together in a coherent story. My final challenge was my prose–I tend to write in a lawyer’s cut and dry style, whereas the statement needs to be more narrative and engaging. Cydney helped me address all those problems and more, by talking to me over the phone to flesh out myquestionnaire and by creating a very clear outline to follow.

2) On a micro level, how would you rate your editor’s editing?

Unbelievable. Within an hour, she would have a 10000 word draft I did pared down to 6000 characters, without losing an ounce of the emotion I was trying to convey.

3) How would you rate Accepted.com’s service? Did your editor keep to our two-business-day turnaround commitment?

Good lord yes. Sometimes even less than two days. She could get things back to me within hours.

4) How would you rate your editor on presenting criticism constructively? Was he or she supportive while helpingyou present yourself in the best possible light?

Absolutely. I had several "difficult" conversations with her–e.g. advice my dean or others had given me that didn’t seem to jive with her advice. But each time, she clearly and concisely articulated her rational, logical viewpoint. Every time, it madeperfect sense. The few times where I was dead set on doing something a particular way, she made it work without compromising the writing. She was, simply put, phenomenal.

5) What is the one thing Accepted.com or your editor should do to really improve the quality of our service?

Honestly? I really don’t think you can. I’d say the prices are a bit high for poor students, but then again, every dollar is absolutely worth it. I think you guys could market yourselves better–you guys provide a really valuable service, and more people need to be aware of it. Because of Cydney’s quick turnaround time, I’m as early as I could be in this application cycle. That’s a HUGE advantage, and something prospective clients need to be aware of. I guess I’d also tell your clients that the outline may not make sense at first, but to have faith. When Cydney first gave me my outline, I felt like she wasemphasizing experiences (law school) that I didn’t want to emphasize. She told me to have faith in the process, so I did–and it turned out brilliantly, just as she assured me. Since most people coming to you are not strong writers, I think you have to assure them that if they keep the faith in the process, they will not be disappointed. I hope that makes sense.

6) On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is Most Likely and 1is Never in a Million Years, how likely are you to recommendAccepted.com to friends and colleagues?

Are you kidding? Is this a real question? A 10, most definitely. I came back to Cydney after my statement for help with my postgrad experiences, and I’ll be back for secondaries too.

Cydney is like this godsend from Canada that [sic] appeared out of nowhere, just when I was getting so frustrated with my applications because of the writing. Because of her, I was able to not only finish my primary butalso to devote time to another huge priority… I can’t thank her enough.